Improved apparatus f,or obtaining light by frictional electricity



M. WESOLOWSKI. LIGHTING LAMPS BY FRIQTIONAL ELECTRICITY.

1%.. 31,273. Patented Jan. 29, 1861.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE WESOLOWSKI. on NEW roan n. Y.

IMPROVED APPARATUS EUR OBTAINING LIGHT BY FRICTIONAL ELECTRICITY.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 31,273, dated January 29, 1861.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MAURICE WESOLOWSKI, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Obtaining Light; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure I represents a side view, and Fig. I[

v a plan, of my improved apparatus.

This invention relates to a peculiar system of obtaining an instantaneous light--suitable for lighting acandlc or lamps, for exampleand it consists in the employment of a vessel filled with aliquid, such as bisulphuret of carbon or its equivalent, which is capable of being decomposed and ignited by the electric spark obtained from a small electric machine.

Upon a stand, P, a disk or cylinder, A, made of glass, hard india-rubber, or any other suitable material, is placed, supported by a frame, B, and so arranged as to be easily turned on its axis.

S is a spring fastened to the frame B or stand P, carrying at its upper end a rubber or pad D, and pressing the same against the face of the disk or cylinder A. This pad D may be applied to one or both sides of the disk or cylinder A, and is composed at its rubbing surface of cloth or other suitable material, in combination with an insulator, (3, consisting of silk or its equivalent. The frictional surface of this pad D is supplied with an amalgam consisting of one part of spelter, by weight, or zinc, one part of tin, and one-half part of mercury.

The end of the shaft which carries the disk or cylinder A is provided with a crank or knob, R, to produce thereby a quick rotation to said disk, for the purpose of generating a current of electricity.

M a metal'wire, N, is fastened to conduct thecurrentof electricity generated by the machine to said vessel M. On the top of this vessel a suitable electrode, V, consisting of charcoal or its equivalent, is fastened. The vessel or lamp M is filled with cotton or wool saturated with bisulphuret of carbon orany other equally in? flammable liquid, and communicating with the electrode V. A metal wire, E,is fixed on the stand P, capable of being moved directly over the electrode V, acting as a negative for the purpose of obtaining the electric spark when the machine is operated.

In using this apparatus for igniting the bisulphuret of carbon or any other inflammable liquid to obtain an instantaneous light, it is simply necessary to impart a quick turn to the disk or cylinder A of the electric machine, whereupon the current thereby generated is conducted by the conductor N to the vessel M, and is discharged from its upper end, which, contains the electrode V, and which latter, being saturated with the vapors arising from the fluid contained in said vessel, is instantly ignited by the action of the electric spark, and remains ignited as long as is required for ob; taiuing a light for a taper or lamp.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The application and use of bisulphuret of carbon or any other equal inflammable liquid capable of being decomposed and ignited by an electric spark, and'contained in an insulated vessel, in combination with a frictional electric machine, the whole being arranged in the manner and for the purpose described.

' MAURICE WESOLOWSKL Witnesses:

HENRY E. ROEDER, JULIAN KEEN. 

